Death Threats

ANNAPOLIS - When a Hagerstown man allegedly threatened the lives of Washington County child protective service employees, police were powerless to make an arrest. It wasn't until death threats were aimed at Washington County Circuit Judge Kennedy Boone that charges were leveled. "It doesn't make sense to me," Social Services Director David Engle testified Tuesday before a the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Engle and five other state employees from Washington County want the Maryland General Assembly to protect all state employees, not just elected officials, from death threats.

Washington Redskins receiver Joshua Morgan felt the full downside of the social media age this week, receiving death threats and other venomous message on Twitter because of his fourth-quarter blunder in the loss to the St. Louis Rams. Morgan talked Wednesday about the nastiness he's heard from fans since his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing the ball at Cortland Finnegan. The penalty cost the Redskins valuable field position during the team's final drive in Sunday's 31-28 defeat.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Williamsport man ordered to serve 90 days in jail for killing two dogs that were running on his property has appealed his case and is free on bond, court documents show. Jeffrey Hurd, 55, of 11845 Camden Road, killed a Labrador retriever with a high-powered rifle in July 2007 and killed a German shepherd in 2008. In each case, the dogs were chasing wild game onto Hurd's property, Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III said in November. Boone heard the case Oct. 27, and in November announced he found Hurd guilty of two counts of mutilating an animal and two counts of malicious destruction of property under $500.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The defense finished its case in Raymond Hoak's murder trial in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Wednesday and court officials said it is possible closing arguments could be heard in the case today. Rebuttal witnesses from the state are expected to be heard this morning. After Wednesday's testimony, defemse attorney Paul Taylor said he does not believe Hoak will testify. Taylor continued to call witnesses Wednesday, including Larry Dehus, a forensic science expert who testified that the bullet that struck victim Larry Hose in the chest traveled in a downward path.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. ? The defense finished its case in Raymond Hoak's murder trial in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Wednesday and court officials said it is possible closing arguments could be heard in the case today. Rebuttal witnesses from the state are expected to be heard this morning. Defense attorney Paul Taylor continued to call witnesses Wednesday, including a forensic science expert who testified that the bullet that struck victim Larry Hose in the chest traveled in a downward path.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Washington County Circuit judge on Thursday morning found a Williamsport man guilty of two counts of mutilating an animal and two counts of malicious destruction of property under $500. Jeffrey Hurd, 55, of 11845 Camden Road, killed a Labrador retriever with a high-powered rifle in July 2007 and killed a German shepherd in 2008. In each case, the dogs were chasing wild game onto Hurd's property, Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III said. Hurd also faces a multimillion dollar lawsuit filed by the owners of the dogs and other neighbors who allege that Hurd is a nuisance who patrols the property line armed with a gun, fires a gun daily and has made death threats to his neighbors and government officials.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Williamsport man who was ordered in December 2008 to serve 90 days in jail for killing two dogs that were running on his property was back in Washington County Circuit Court Monday after neighbors complained of hearing gunshots coming from the man's property. Jeffrey Hurd, 56, of 11845 Camden Road, has been free since posting bond Dec. 19, 2008, two days after a Baltimore attorney filed a notice of appeal of Hurd's conviction. Hurd killed a Labrador retriever with a high-powered rifle in July 2007, and killed a German shepherd in May 2008.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- The government turned up the pressure Tuesday on the head of a small Florida church who plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, warning him that doing so could endanger U.S. troops and Americans everywhere. But the Rev. Terry Jones insisted he would go ahead with his plans, despite criticism from the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as well as a host of religious leaders. Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil's religion, says the Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God. Gen. David Petraeus warned Tuesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press that "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence.

With Kennedy's death, a voice for justice is lost To the editor: Before the letters start coming in about Sen. Ted Kennedy's human shortfalls, I would like to say we have lost a great advocate for American justice. A man who had great shoes to fill and burdens to carry that most of us would crumble under. Kennedy could have, at any time, abandoned his fight to raise the standard of living for the working man. He could have cowered under the hate and the many death threats and hidden behind bodyguards, but he chose to put his faith in his God and in his fellow man. For those who will criticize his heritage, I ask you, what have you done to promote the welfare of your neighbor?

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- The man charged with killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others in a drunken-driving crash pleaded not guilty Monday to three counts of murder as relatives of the victims looked on. Andrew Thomas Gallo also pleaded not guilty through his attorney to three other felony charges and one misdemeanor in connection with the April 9 collision that occurred just hours after Adenhart pitched six scoreless innings...

Washington Redskins receiver Joshua Morgan felt the full downside of the social media age this week, receiving death threats and other venomous message on Twitter because of his fourth-quarter blunder in the loss to the St. Louis Rams. Morgan talked Wednesday about the nastiness he's heard from fans since his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing the ball at Cortland Finnegan. The penalty cost the Redskins valuable field position during the team's final drive in Sunday's 31-28 defeat.

It's been 10 years, but Tri-State area residents asked to recall when and where they learned of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks could easily return to those moments in their minds. Lori Smith of Waynesboro, Pa., remembers her father calling her at home to break the news. "It was kind of surreal, I think, because at that point we didn't know what it was," Smith said. "Everyone was coming into work crying," said Mary Ely of Waynesboro. "I felt anger, disbelief," Darren Rankin of Hancock said.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- Police have notified the FBI and Secret Service about a death threat against the White House press secretary that was found on a restroom door at the Interstate 81 welcome center in Antrim Township, Pa., Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Lindsey Trace said Saturday. The vandalism was reported Thursday afternoon at the I-81 northbound welcome center just north of the Maryland/Pennsylvania state line, Trace said. Written on a door to the women's restroom were the words "Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will be assassinated on 09/11/10.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- The government turned up the pressure Tuesday on the head of a small Florida church who plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, warning him that doing so could endanger U.S. troops and Americans everywhere. But the Rev. Terry Jones insisted he would go ahead with his plans, despite criticism from the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as well as a host of religious leaders. Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil's religion, says the Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God. Gen. David Petraeus warned Tuesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press that "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence.

With Kennedy's death, a voice for justice is lost To the editor: Before the letters start coming in about Sen. Ted Kennedy's human shortfalls, I would like to say we have lost a great advocate for American justice. A man who had great shoes to fill and burdens to carry that most of us would crumble under. Kennedy could have, at any time, abandoned his fight to raise the standard of living for the working man. He could have cowered under the hate and the many death threats and hidden behind bodyguards, but he chose to put his faith in his God and in his fellow man. For those who will criticize his heritage, I ask you, what have you done to promote the welfare of your neighbor?

HAGERSTOWN -- A Williamsport man who was ordered in December 2008 to serve 90 days in jail for killing two dogs that were running on his property was back in Washington County Circuit Court Monday after neighbors complained of hearing gunshots coming from the man's property. Jeffrey Hurd, 56, of 11845 Camden Road, has been free since posting bond Dec. 19, 2008, two days after a Baltimore attorney filed a notice of appeal of Hurd's conviction. Hurd killed a Labrador retriever with a high-powered rifle in July 2007, and killed a German shepherd in May 2008.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- The man charged with killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others in a drunken-driving crash pleaded not guilty Monday to three counts of murder as relatives of the victims looked on. Andrew Thomas Gallo also pleaded not guilty through his attorney to three other felony charges and one misdemeanor in connection with the April 9 collision that occurred just hours after Adenhart pitched six scoreless innings...

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police have seized a computer from the Chambersburg-area home of a person believed responsible for posting a death threat against Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin on a hockey message board. Police refused to identify the owner of the computer. Other media have reported the poster as a Chambersburg teenager. Police said the message was posted on a Pittsburgh Penguins message board. In the message, the poster bragged he was going to kill Ovechkin and did not care if he went to jail.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Williamsport man ordered to serve 90 days in jail for killing two dogs that were running on his property has appealed his case and is free on bond, court documents show. Jeffrey Hurd, 55, of 11845 Camden Road, killed a Labrador retriever with a high-powered rifle in July 2007 and killed a German shepherd in 2008. In each case, the dogs were chasing wild game onto Hurd's property, Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III said in November. Boone heard the case Oct. 27, and in November announced he found Hurd guilty of two counts of mutilating an animal and two counts of malicious destruction of property under $500.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Washington County Circuit judge on Thursday morning found a Williamsport man guilty of two counts of mutilating an animal and two counts of malicious destruction of property under $500. Jeffrey Hurd, 55, of 11845 Camden Road, killed a Labrador retriever with a high-powered rifle in July 2007 and killed a German shepherd in 2008. In each case, the dogs were chasing wild game onto Hurd's property, Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III said. Hurd also faces a multimillion dollar lawsuit filed by the owners of the dogs and other neighbors who allege that Hurd is a nuisance who patrols the property line armed with a gun, fires a gun daily and has made death threats to his neighbors and government officials.